“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.” – Washington Irving
The headlines are full of misfortunes, some bigger than others. The tragedy in Colorado is hard to comprehend when you hear the friends and family’s’ stories of coping after their losses. It will take time to heal from this horrible pain. It is hard to believe that it has been over ten years since the terror in New York city on 9/11.
Thriving does not mean that you do not have the pain or empathy for others during these tragedies. It does mean that you look for small glimmers of hope and focus on the good things in our world. Often these are the little joys, like a really good fresh sweet tomato from a garden stand down the road. Savoring every bite.
Bouncing back after a personal misfortune takes time. I am working remotely in Montana where there are many people rebuilding their lives from years of unemployment. They are working in or supporting the oil fields where fractional drilling is booming. It is controversial because there are environmental concerns with the oil drilling process. As a good friend of mine (thanks, Rene) said, “Until you are the person who has been struggling for years and now has the opportunity for some prosperity, you cannot judge the people who are prospering from this work.” There are many stories of going from “almost homeless” to having a place to sleep and money for meals each day. They are rising above their prior misfortunes and thriving.